Roll construction



Dec. 20, 1960 R. F. EDWARDS 2,964,834

ROLL CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 18, 1958 INVENTORC EDWARDS FIGZ.

BY ATTYS.

United States Patent ROLL CONSTRUCTION Russell F. Edwards, Havertown, Pa., assignor to Iomac, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Nov. 18, 1958, Ser. No. 774,768

2 Claims. (Cl. 29117) The present invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in coating rolls and more particularly to a novel roll wherein a sleeve or shell is removably mounted on a shaft so that the sleeve or shell may be easily and quickly removed from the shaft and replaced.

Rolls of this type are used extensively in the graphic arts industry for applying a. coating such as a protective coating or printed matter or the like to sheet material. One extensive use of rolls of this type, for example, has been in the metal can industry wherein coating rolls are used to apply a protective coating to sheet metal prior to the sheet metal being cut and formed into cans. The rolls are driven and rotate in a bath of the coatnig material in engagement with the sheet metal and serve the dual purpose of coating and propelling the sheet metal. When these rolls are used to coat the surface of the metal which will be the interior surface of the formed can the rolls have a smooth outer surface and coat the entire surface of the sheet metal. Alternatively, when rolls of this type are used to coat the surface of sheet metal which will be the exterior surface of the formed can, portions of the surface of the roll are cut out or removed to eliminate the application of coating to the surface of the sheet metal where the seam will be in the can to permit the can to be soldered. The application of this coating must be extremely accurate as the coating material must completely cover that portion of the surface of the metal which does not have solder applied to it. Additionally, rolls of this type are used in many instances for spot coating wherein a design is cut in the face of the roll and the roll applies a coating material to predetermined portions of the surface of a sheet of material.

When rolls are used for the above mentioned purposes they often become damaged, for example, due to a rough spot or a sharp edge on the material being coated which cuts or abrades the surface of the roll and makes the coating roll unsuitable for use. Also, when rolls of this type are used for spot coating there is no further use for the roll at the end of the production run of the material being coated.

Prior to the present invention, rolls of this type were usually formed as an integral unit comprising a shaft, a roll shell, and a face coating, for example, of synthetic rubber bonded directly to the exterior surface of the shell. When these prior rolls became damaged or their use for applying a spot coating was no longer required it was necessary for the user of the roll to ship the rolls back to the roll manufacturer who would strip the face coating off of the shell and apply a new face coating on the shell and then send the roll back to the user. This required the user of rolls of this type to maintain a large inventory of rolls so that there would be a ready replacement for any damaged rolls. The requirement for a large inventory of these rolls results in the user of rolls of this type making a large capital expense of a coating roll.

2,964,834; Patented Dec. 20, 1960? "ice investment in these rolls and alsoin providing a consid-g erable amount of storage space for the stand-by rolls-5 Another coating roll which has been used to a limitedf extent but not too successfully, comprises a shaft and a; slotted roll shell with a flexible blanket which may bet wrapped about the shell. Fastening means are provided? along opposite edges of the blanket which engage within a; longitudinal slot on the surface of the shell to secure the blanket to the shell. With this type of a roll there is; always a space or a gap between adjacent edges of theblanket and accordingly, this roll does not permit the continuous coating of sheet material.

In accordance with the present invention a mounting mechanism for a coating roll is provided that may be. easily and readily employed to securely mount a remov-i able sleeve or shell on a shaft, the mechanism being ad-f apted to accommodate coating rolls of different diam-i eters. Accordingly, it will be readily apparent that the; user needs only a single shaft for each machine when; employing the mounting mechanism of the present inven-; tion with the necessary "removable sleeves or shells for; applying the coating composition. When the surface of the roll becomes severely damaged the user of the roll; may dispose of the removable sleeve or, if the damage} is slight, the user may either regrind the sleeve or ship? the sleeve alone back to the roll manufacturer for re@ pair. This eliminates high shipping charges for replace-I ment or repair of roll covers. Additionally, if the roll 'is'used'rdrspot coating for a short production run and,

there is a possibility that the same pattern might be used; at some future date, the user of the roll may save the! removable sleeve for a roll without tying up an itemj which required a large initial capital expenditure as' would be the case if the user of the above mentioned; integral roll unit attempted to save an entire roll fori some possible future production.

With the foregoing in mind, the principal object of! the present invention is to provide a novel mechanism for, mounting a coating roll having a removable or disposable? sleeve on a shaft so that the sleeve may be easily removed and replaced.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel coating roll which will decrease considerably the users initial capital investment in coating rolls and make: it possible for rolls of this type to be used for short pro-1 duction runs which heretofore have not warranted the:

A still further object of the present invention is tolf provide a novel coating roll and mounting mechanismi having the features and characteristics set forth above which are of relatively simplified construction, may beg manufactured easily and cheaply and are entirely eflicient and effective in operation and use. 1

These and other objects of the present invention and} the various features and details of the operation and construction thereof are hereinafter more fully set forth and described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a longitudinal view partially in section illusi trating a coating roll and mounting mechanism made in 3 accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the longitudinal axis of the roll illustrating mountmg mechanism of the present invention;

for the mounting mechanism of the present invention.

Referring more specifically to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, reference numeral 10 designates generally a sleeve or shell which is adapted to be removably mounted on a shaft 11. The sleeve or shell aoeasse comprises .an hollow core 12 of relatively stifi material, for example, metal or a stiff plastic material such as an impregnated phenolic resin material to which an outer facing 13 is secured. The outer facing 13 usually is a softer material than the core 12 and may be formed, for example, of synthetic rubber bounded directly to the core 12.

In accordance with the present invention mounting means are provided which are adapted to position the :shell or sleeve member coaxially of the shaft 11 and permit the shell to be readily removed from the shaft.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention similar mounting means are provided on the shaft at points spaced inwardly from the opposite .ends of the shell. It will be apparent, however, that one or more mounting means may be provided depending on the size and use of the shell. The mounting means each comprise a hub member 14 secured to the shaft'll, for example, by means of a set screw 15 which is threaded through the hub member into engagement with the shaft 11. The hub member 14 has an annular flange 16 projecting outwardly therefrom, in one face of which a plurality of radially extending slots or channels 17 are provided. Each channel 17 extends radially with re spect to the shaft 11 from the central opening in the hub to the outer periphery of the flange. In order to interconnect and position the shell 10 with respect -to the shaft 11, an expansion member 18 is positioned within cam channel 17 for sliding movement between an outer position in pressure applying engagement with the shell 10 wherein the shell is maintained in position coaxially i of the shaft 11 and an inner position wherein the shell the channel 17 and an arcuate shoe member 20 secured to the outer end of the leg 19 which is operable to engage the inner surface of the shell 10. The leg members 19 may have a thickness equal to the depth of the channels 17 so that the outer face of the leg members is flush with the outer face of the flange 17, as shown in Fig. 2. In this instance, the expansion members may be prevented from moving in a direction axially of the shaft 11 by means of a plate 22 bolted or otherwise secured to the forward face of the flange 16. Each shoe 20 is provided with an annular groove 23 in its outer face operable to receive a flexible spring 24 which surrounds the shaft 11 in engagement with each shoe and serves to normally urge the expansion members radially inwardly toward the shaft. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention four expansion members are provided equally spaced about the axis of the shaft. It will be apparent, however, that any desired number of these expansion members may be used.

An important feature of the present invention is the provision of means for simultaneously actuating the expansion members 18 longitudinally of the slots or channels 17 and radially of the shaft 11 so that pressure exerted on the shell is distributed in a uniform manner. To this end a collar member 25 carrying a plurality of tapered expanders 26 is slidably mounted on the shaft 11 with one tapered expander engaged beneath each expansion member and as the collar and expanders are moved in one direction axially of the shaft the expansion members are simultaneously forced radially outward from the shaft. Similarly, when the collar and tapered expanders are moved axially of the shaft in the opposite direction the expansion members are caused to move radially inward toward the shaft. In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the tapered expanders are positioned within recesses 27 formed at the forward or inner end of the collar 25 and are maintained in position relative to the collar by means of a ring 28 which is engaged within grooves formed in the outer faces of the tapered expanders 26 and collar 25.

In order to effect actuation of the collar member 25 a nut 29 is threadedly mounted on the shaft in engagement with the outer end of the collar member. The nut 29 is provided with a plurality of finger members 31 mounted on the outer periphery of the nut, for example, by means of bolts 32 as illustrated in Fig. 2. The fingers 31 engage over a shoulder formed on the collar member so that the collar is caused to -n1ove axially of the shaft along with corresponding movement of the nut. A pair of generally circular cover plates 33, 33 are provided in order to close and protect the open ends of the shell. The plates 33, 33 are secured to .opposite ends of the coating roll by means of a series of bolts 34 threaded into the nut member as shown in Fig. 2.

In order to mount a shell on .the shaft for use, the shell is positioned over the shaft with the mounting mechanism spaced from opposite ends of the shaft and inwardly of the opposite ends of the shell. The nut members 29 are then rotated in a direction to, cause movement of the collars axially inward causing a radially outward movement of the expansion members 18 against the urging of the flexible spring member 24. This adjustment is continued until the proper pressure of the expansion members against the shell is obtained. Thereafter the end cover plates 33, 33 are positioned over the shaft and secured in place. To remove theshell from the shaft it is merely necessary to remove he .end plates and rotate the nut member in outwardly direction. Outward axial movement of the-nut member effect a corresponding outward movement of thecollar due to the interaction of the finger and the shoulder on .the collar. This outward movement of the collar will cause the tapered wedges to be retractcdiand in .tm'nnwillpcrmit radially inward movement of the expansion members due to the urging of the flexible spring. In this position the shaft and mounting mechanism can ,be withdrawn from the shell.

From the foregoing itwill be apparent that the present invention provides a new and useful mounting mechanism for coating rolls wherein a shell may be readily removed from a shaft and replaced with a of eifort and expense. Additionally, it will be apparent that the mounting mechanism of the present invention is of a relatively simplified construction and may be easily and quickly assembled and disassembled.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been illustratedand described herein it is not intended to limit the inventionto such a disclosure and changes and modifications may be incorporated and embodied therein within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A coating roll comprising a roll shaft, .an outer shell carried by said shaft, a flange member secured to each end of the shaft inwardly of the shell .for rotation V with the shaft, means defining a plurality of radially extending channels in said flange members, a plurality of expansion members corresponding in number to said plurality of channels, each of said expansion members comprising a leg portion and an arcuate shoe portion connected to the leg portion, said leg portion. adapted to be mounted in said channel'and actuated radially of the shaft to thereby move said arcuate shoe into engagement with the inner periphery of said shell to position the shell maxially of the shaft, a flexible spring member interconnecting said shoe members operable to normally urge said expansion members radially inwardly, a-collar member positioned about the shaft for axial movement thereof,- means defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending grooves in said collar corresponding in number to said plurality of channels in said flange members, a plurality of tapered expanders positioned in said grooves in said collar in engagement with said leg portions operable upon movement axially of the S af cause radial movement of said expansion members, means 5 for rcmovably securing said expanders to said collar, and means to actuate said collar axially of said shaft.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein means are provided defining a shoulder on said collar, a nut member threadedly secured to said shaft in engagement with said collar, and at least one finger member carried by said nut member adapted to engage over said shoulder on the collar, said nut member operable upon axial actuation in one direction to move said collar toward said flange member to thereby elfect radially outward actuation of theexpansion members and position the shell coaxially ofthe shaft and operable upon actuation in the other 6 direction to move said collar away from said flange mem her to thereby effect radially inward movement of the expansion members and permit the shell to be removed from the shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,448,528 Elliott Mar. 13, 1923 10 1,518,712 Trotman Dec. 9, 1924' 2,583,889 Schoonenberg Jan. 29, 1952 

